Soeharto invited to UN population meet
Soeharto invited to UN population meet
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto, recipient of various
international awards for his success in bringing Indonesia's
population growth under control, has been invited to address the
United Nation's conference on population in Cairo this September.
Minister of Population Haryono Suyono said yesterday that the
United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA), which is
organizing the conference, has asked President Soeharto to speak
in his capacity as chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement.
Soeharto has tentatively agreed, Haryono said yesterday during
a meeting with the House of Representatives' Commission VIII
which deals with population.
Haryono said that UNFPA executive director Nafis Sadik, during
a recent meeting in New York, told him that Egyptian President
Hosni Mubarak will send a formal invitation to Soeharto to
address the International Conference on Population and
Development.
Thirteen other heads of states have been invited, including
from the leaders of the United States, Zimbabwe, Mexico, Niger
and Norway.
Indonesia, which is involved in the preparatory meetings for
the conference, has been pushing for its own population concepts.
Haryono said Indonesia's concept of family has attracted the
attention of Pope John Paul II, who sent a letter to Soeharto,
asking him to elaborate further in his speech in Cairo.
The minister said the choice of Soeharto could not be
separated from his success in bringing population growth in
Indonesia under control.
In 1989 Soeharto received the UN Population Award for
Indonesia's success in lowering its fertility and infant
mortality rates during his leadership.
Haryono said UNFPA has ranked Indonesia among the world's
centers of excellence on population control, along with Thailand,
Mexico and Tunisia.
During yesterday's hearing, the minister also disclosed the
government's plan to set up a national commission dealing with
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
The commission will be set up by a presidential decree that
will probably be issued this week, he said. (11)